US Route 36 is a major highway in Colorado that connects the two states of Colorado and Kansas to Colorado’s two largest cities. Accidents are quite common and are typically caused by poor driving or negligent driving.
Merging accidents are an example of accidents that can happen when vehicles fail to adjust to other nearby vehicles when merging on to a highway or when forced to merge on the highway itself. A personal injury claim can go some of the way to compensate for the financial cost of an unintentional injury. It is advisable to use a personal injury attorney to help you if you are considering legal action.
US-36 in Colorado
US-36 is a major east west highway that passes through both Boulder and Denver on its way from Rocky Mountain National Park in the west to the Kansas border in the east. The highway is 232 miles in length and was first built as a formed road in 1926. The central part of the highway passes through heavily built up areas that carry large volumes of traffic with a number of lane variations.
The urban part of US-36 contrasts with its western origin in the mountainous section of Rocky Mountain National Park and the remote and somewhat desolate eastern part of Colorado traversed before the highway enters Kansas.
What to Do If Hit While Merging On US-36
Make sure you file your personal injury claim after a merging accident in Colorado within the two year time limit. You only have 180 days to file a claim if you were hit by a city or state government employee on official business. In fact, it is wise to file a claim for compensation as soon as you are advised to do so by your attorney.
Colorado has what is called a modified comparative negligence rule. This prevents compensation being awarded if it is determined that you were at least 50% at fault for the accident that led to your own injuries. Compensation may be paid according to a percentage formula if you were less than 50% at fault.
For example, if the case goes to court and a judge determines that the person who hit you was 80% at fault and your actions were 20% to blame, then you will be eligible to obtain 80% of the amount you originally claimed.
Evidence to Gather If Hit While Merging On US-36
The key to any successful personal injury claim is the validity of the evidence that you can provide showing that you were injured as a result of someone else’s negligence. The more evidence you have, the more likely that you will be able to convince an insurance adjuster, or a judge, that you are entitled to compensation. Typically useful evidence is as follows:
- police report completed when officers inspect the crash scene;
- photographic evidence obtained at the crash site;
- witnesses who can back your version of events;
- medical statements and records which document your exact injuries;
- bills, invoices and any other evidence of what the injuries have cost you so far and how much any future treatment may cost;
- vehicle repair report and bill for repair or vehicle replacement if it is a write-off.
Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
An experienced personal injury attorney can make a difference between failing to obtain any compensation at all and receiving fair compensation. The attorney can advise you at the outset whether a claim is feasible considering the circumstances of the accident and will help you collect sufficient evidence and negotiate with a potentially difficult insurance adjuster.
